Engine-valve.



vA. D. WHIDDEN. ENGINE VALVE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1o, w13.

l, l 27,83?. Patented Feb. 9,1915.

` svsHEETs-SHEET 1.

attente/1g s A. D. WHIDDEN.

ENGINE VALVE.

APPLIUATION Ilm-.n JUNE 10,1913.

g?. Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ARTHYUBID. WHIDDEN, 0E ELYRIA, OHIO.

ENGINE-VALVE.

Liemeer.

specification uf Letters'ratent;

-ramdea ree. a, isis.

Application led J' une 10, 1913. Serial No. 772,849.

T 0 all whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR D. WHIDDEN, citizen of the United States, residinfr at Elyria, in the county of Lorain and tate of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Engine-Valves, of which the following is a specification.

My` invention relates to new and useful improvements in engine valves and more particularly to rotary valves for use in connection with multiple cylinder, internal combustion engines, the primary object of my invention being to provide arotary valve which will control both the supply of eXplosive mixture andthe exhaust in an engine of the four-cycle type having a plurality of cylinders.

A further object of my invention is to accomplish the above by means of a tubular cylindrical valve casing, preferably cast integrally with the cylinders and a hollow cylindrical valve litting within the valve casing and provided with ports arranged te register at proper intervals with a plurality of ports formed in the valve casing, the inner cylinder forming the valve proper being closed at -its ends and divided by transverse partitions into a plurality ot' separate chambers.

A further object of my invention is to so arrange and position the various ports that y the pressure through the exhaust ports and inlet ports equalize each other, thereby eliminating the greater part of the friction be tween the valve and valve casing.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a peculiar type of packing ring for use about the ports of the valve casing 'and engaging against the valve proper to prevent all leakage of either the explosive mixture or exhaust gases between the valve and its casing. And a still further object of my invention is to so cast the valve casing with the engine cylinders 'that the cylinders and casing will be surrounded and cooledby a single water jacket.'

With these and other objects in view, my invention will be more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and then specically pointed out in the claims which are attached to and form a Part of this application. i

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a central, vertical, longitudinal sectional view taken through a tour-cylinder engine equipped with my improved rotary valve; Fig. 2 1s a horizontal, longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, showing thev valve construction; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 3--3 of Fig.

2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a perspective View .of the valve removed from the valve casing; Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2,.showing the construction ot' one ofy the packing rings; Fig. 6 is an unassembled perspective view of one of the paclnng rings removed from the valve casing.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to inthe following description and indicated in all theviews of the-drawings by the same reference characters. 'n

For the sake of clearness and to insure a full understanding of the construction and operation of my improved valve l have illustrated the same in connection with a four-cylinder, four-cycle internal combustion engine of conventional type, it being understood that it may be employed with equally goed results with an engine having any number of cylinders. The engine consists primarily of two castings 10 and 1l, the former forming the crank casing of the engine and the latter including the cylinders and valve casing, together with the various passages leading from the cylinders to the casing. These castings are bolted or otherwise secured together in the usual manner and the front and rear walls of the casting 10 or crank case are provided with alined bearings 12 to receive a crank shaft 13. Brackets 14 extend upwardly from the bottom of the crank casing and are provided with bearings 15 to support intermediate portions of the crank shaft.,I

The cylinders and valve casing are prefer- -ably castas a unit in order to prevent all leakage either of the explosive mixture, exhaust ases or water from the water jacketing' o? the cylinders and valve and said casting includes an outer casing 16 and cylinders 17 18, 19 and 20, a hollow cylindrical valve casing 21 extending in spaced relation above the .tops of the cylinders and longitunot shown, to prevent overheating ofV the cylinders and valve.

Pistons 23 are mounted in the cylinders and operatively connected by piston rods 24 l With the Wrist pins 25 of the crank shaft.

The valve casing 21 opens at its ends through the front and rear walls of the outer casing 16 and one endvof said valve casing is closed by a threaded cap 26, While the other end is closed by a threaded cap 27 provided cent1-ally with any opening 28 for'the passage of a trunnion formed upon one end of the valve proper and by which the valve is rotated inits casing, as will be later explained.

The valve casing is provided along the horizontal plane of its axis and upon both sides With a multiplicityof ports 29, 30, 31, sa, s3, si, e5, 36, 37, es, 39, 4o and 4i. the ports upon one side being arranged in staggered relation with respect to the ports upon the other. Duets 42 lead from these ports to alined ports in the easing 16, While the ports 30 and 31 communicate with the cylinder 17, ports 33 and 34 with the cylinder 18, ports 36'and 37 with the cylinder 19 and ports 39 and 40 with the cylinder 20, all through the ducts 22, previously described. lThe Acarbureter manifold 43 has branches 44 and 45 leading to the ports of the outer casing 16 communicating With the valve casing ports 32 and 38l and an eX- haust manifold 46 has branches 47, 48 and '49 leading to the ports of the 'outer casing 16 communicating with the valve casing ports 2,9, and 41, respectively. The ports 31, 33, 37 and 39 constitute the fuel supply ports of the cylinders 17, 18,v 19 and 20, re-

A spe'ctively, while the ports 30, 34, 36 and 40 ders.

A valve proper 50 is mounted for rotation'in the valve casing and this valve consists of a' hollow 'cylindrical shell or body fitting closely Within thel valve' casingand bearing: by one end against the cap 26 and by its other endaga-inst the cap 27, both ends' being closed and said latter end being provided With'a centrallyformed trunnion I51 which projects through the opening 28 ofthe cap. This trunnion carries a sprocket 5,2 and a sprocket chain 53 is trained about the. sprocket 52 and about a second sprocket 54 carried upon the forward end of' the crankshaft 13, the relative size ofl the sprockets 52 and 54 being such that the constitute the exhaust ports of said cylininem-sev valve is turned once during every two revolutions of the crank shaft. Although I have shown the valve as driven by achain and sprockets from the crank shaft, Vit will of course be understood that the valve may be driven in any suitable manner, the idea being merely to' provide means for rotating the valve at half the speed of rotation of the crank shaft. This valve body proper is divided into a plurality of chambers 55, 56, 57, 58 and 59 by means of its closed ends and a plurality of spaced apart transversely extending partition Walls 60 61, 62 and 63. These chambers constitute the fuel supply andl exhaust chambers of the valve, the chambers 56 and 58 supplying fuel from the carbureter manifold to the cylinders and thechambers 55, 57 and 59 conveying the exhaust gases from the evlinders to the exhaust manifold as will be later explained. For this reason, the peripheral Wall of the chamber 55 is provided With ports 64 and formed to simultaneously register' with the ports 29 and 30, respectively of the casing in one position 'of the valve to permit the escape of the exhaust. gases from the cylinder 17 through the ports 30 and 65 to the chamber 55 and from this chamber through the ports 64 and 294 to the Vexhaust manifold. These ports are longitudinally spaced apart and are formed in opposite `sides of the valve body.

vbeing midway longitudinally between the ports-66 and 68 and disposed at substantially ninety degrees from each other.

rIhe wall of the chamber'57 is provided With ports 70-71 and 72-73, the ports 71 and 73 being directly opposite each other both circumferentially and longitudinally, While the ports 70 and 72 are disposed longitudinally one upon either side of the ports 71 and 73, the former, that is the port 70, being beside the port 73, While the latter, that is the port 72, is beside the port 71. ln like manner, the Wall of the chamber 58 is provided with ports 74 and 75 oppositely disposed and longitudinally spaced apart and with ports 76 and 77 also oppositely disposed with respect to each other and longitudinally spaced apart, the ports 75 and 77 being midway longitudinally between the ports 74y and 76 and disposed at substantially ninety degrees from each other.

. The Wall of the chamber 59 is provided with .ports 78 and 79 oppositely disposed, longitudinally spaced apart and arranged to simultaneously register 4vvith the ports 40 and 41, respectively of tlm-valvecasing6 of the cylinders.

-56 and 58.

intense? l The various ports of each chamber are not only arranged with respect to each other as above described, but the ports of each chamber are disposed in a certain Way with respect to the ports of all other chambers'in order to insure a uniform and proper firing Explosions occur in the cylinders, when the engine is running, in the usual order common to most four-cylin der, four-cycle engines, that is, assuming that the first explosion is in the cylinder 17, in the cylinders 19. 20 18, 17, 19, etc.

The fuel supply for the engine passes through the manifoldV 13 to the manifold branches 44 and l15 and so, in proper positions of the valve, to the valve chambers ln one position of the Valve, fuel passing through the branch le passes through the valve casing port 32 and valve port 67 into the chamber 56 and from this chamber through the valve port 66 and valve casing port 31 to the cylinder 17. ln yet another position of the valve, fuel passes from the branch elle through 'the valve casing'port 32 and valve port 69 into the valve chamber 56 and from this chamber through the valvev port 68 and valve casing port 33 to the cylinder 18. In anotherv position of the valve, fuel passes through the manifold branch 45 through the valve casing port 38 and valve port 75 to the valve chamber 58 and from this valve chamber through the 'valve port 74 and valve easingport 37 to the cylinder 19. Aga-in, in still another position of the valve, fuel passes from the branch 45 through the valve casing port 38 and valve port 77 into the valve chamber 58 and from this valve chamber through the valve port 76 and valve casing port 39 to the cylinder 20. It will therefore be seen that the fuel supply passes from the manifold through the valve chambers 56 and 58 to the various cylinders of the engine. 1n like manner, the exhaust of the various engine cylinders passes into one or the other of the valve chambers 55, 57 and 59 and to the exhaust manifold 46 through the ex'-A haust manifold branches 47, 48 and 119, respectively. More specifically, in one position of the valve, the exhaust gases from the cylinder 17 pass through the valve 'casing port 30 and valve port65 into the valve chamber 55'and from this valve chamber through the valve port 64 and valve casing port 29 to the branch L17 of the exhaust manifold. In another position of the valve, the exhaust gases from the cylinder 18 pass through the valve casing port 34- and valve port 7 0 into the valve chamber 57 and from this chamber through the valve port 71 and valve casing port to the branch 118Y of the exhaust manifold. 1n yet another po` sition of the valve, the exhaust gases from the cylinderv 19 pass' through the valve easing port 36 and valve'port 72 into the 'manifold From the above description, the operation of the valve will be readily understood. As shown, in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the cylinder' 17 is on the beginning of its impulse stroke, the cylinder 18 on the beginning of its exhaust stroke and the cylinders 19 and 20 atV the beginning of their com pression and intake strokes, respectively. In this position of the valve, the exhaust valve ports 611 and 65 are so `located that a quarter revolution of the valve will bring them into alinement with their respective valve casing ports 29 and 30 topermit the exploded gases from the cylinder 17 to escape, as at that time, due to the half speed -drive of the valve, the cylinder 17 will be at the beginning of its exhaust stroke. p

The valve ports 66 and 67, in Fig. 2, are directly opposite their respective valve easing ports 31 and 32 in order that, after a half rotation of the valve, at which time the cylinder 17 will be at the beginning of its intake stroke, they may register with such valve casing ports to permit passage of fuel 'from the manifold 13 to the cylinder 17. The valve ports 68 and 69, on the other hand, are but a quarter revolution from their :respective valve casing ports 33 and 32 in order that they may, after a quarter revolution of the valve, that is a half revolution .of the crank shaft, be in alinement4 with their respective valve casing ports to permit Supply of fuel to the cylinder 18 which will then be at the beginning of its intake stroke.

As previously mentioned, the cylinder 18 is at the beginning of itsexhaust stroke, as shown in Fig. 2,'and for that reason the valve ports 70 and 71 are in alinement With their respective valve casing ports 34; and 35 to permit the escape of the exhaust gases from the cylinder 18 to the exhaust manifold 46. As the exhaustfrom the cylinder 19 will not occur until after one complete revolution of the crank shaft or half revolution of the valve, the valve ports 72 and 73, which constitute the exhaust valve ports for this cylinder, are located diametrically opposite their respective valve casing ports 36 and 35. The cylinder 19 being at the beginning of its compression stroke, the valve ports 74 and 75 are located one-half revolution from their respective valve casing ports 37 and 38 in order that after one complete rotation of the crank shaft, which will bring the cylinder 19 to the beginning of its intake stroke, they may be in alinement with their respective valve casing ports to supply fuel from the manifold ai to the cylinder' 19.

inasmuch as the cylinder 20 is at the be ginning of its intake stroke, the valve ports 76 and 77 are in alincment with their respective valve casing ports B9 and 38 to permit passage of fuel from the manifold la to the cylinder 20. As after one-half revolution of the crank shaft, the cylinder 2O will be at the begining of its exhaust stroke, the'valve ports 7S and 79 are located one-quarter rotation of the valve from their respective valve casing ports 40 and 4:1 to permit escape of exhaust gases from the cylinder 20 to the manifold lf3 at the proper time.-

The vabove description discloses the construction and arrangement of my improved valve and also explains with snllicient clear- 'ness the manner in which it operates to control the supply of charges of combustible gas to the various cylinders and the escape of the exhaust gases therefrom. It will, however, be apparent that it is of the utmost importance that all leakage of either the explosive gas or the exhaust gases betweenthe valve and valve casing be prevented as the valve would be practically Worthless if such leakage was permitted' F or this reason l surround each of the valve casing ports with a packing ring vvhich engages against the outer peripheral face of the valve at all times and which absolutely prevents all leakage.

Referring more specically to Figs. 5 and G, which best shovv the construction and arrangement of the packing rings, it ivillbe noted that the inner facel of the valve casing 2l adjacent each of the ducts d2 is provided 'with an annular seat SO to receive a packing ring 81 of any suitable metal, the inner face of which is shaped to conform with and bear against the peripheral face of the valve as clearly shown in both Figs. 5 and 6.

Although the seat and packing ring are described an dshoivn as annular, it will of course be understood that they may be formed in any desired shape. The outer face of the packing ring is provided with an outwardly directed annular flange 82 which extends in parallel spaced relation to the wall of the duct i2 and a packing ring 83 of asbestos, mineral wool or other suitable material is seated between the wall of the duct and this flange. A clamping ring 84 is then inserted to bear against the packing ring 83 to force the same into close engagement with the packing ring 81, its flange 82 and the wall of the duct d2. This clamping ring 84 is provided with tivo or more spaced apart legs 85 which extend longitudinally ofthe duct 42 and against which theinner edge of a clamp screw 86, threaded into .the outer end of the duct 42, bears. The clamp screws threaded into, the ducts leading to the ports 30, 31, 38, 34, 36, 374, 39 and 40 are closed at their outer ends, while the clamp screws threaded into the ducts leading the ports 29, 32, 35, 38 and 4l are provided with openings to receive the free ends of the branches of the manifolds 43 and 46. The above described packing rings prevent all leakage of gas from the valve and insure proper compression in the cylinders providing the pistons-of the cylinders lit tightly.

rlhe top of the outer casing i6 and the upper portion of the valve casing 2l are provided with alined bores to receive lubri-` eating pipes 87 by means of Which oil may be supplied to the valve between it and its casing. Theraded passages 88 leading through the casing 16 and upper portions of the cylinder' Walls are adapted to receive spark plugs by which the charges in the y cylinders may be ignited.

l-l aving thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. 1n a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having inlet ports, one adapted for communication with an inlet manifold and one for communication with an engine cylinder, and exhaust ports one adapted for communication with an exhaust manifold and one for communication with the Vcylinder; a hollow cylindrical valve closed at its ends rotatable in the valve casing having oppositely disposed inlet ports and oppositely disposed exhaust ports arranged for registration with the inlet and exhaust ports ofthe valve casing, and a partition extending between the inlet and exhaust ports of the ,valve dividing the same into inlet and exhaust chambers.

Q. ln a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having oppositely disposed inlet ports-` one adapted for communication with an inlet manifold vand one for communication with an engine cylinder, and oppositely disposed exhaust ports one adapted for communication with an exhaust manifold and one for communication with the cylinder; a hollow cylindrical valve closed at its ends rotatable in the valve casing having inlet and exhaust ports arranged for registration with the inlet and exhaust ports of the valve casing, and a partition extending between the inlet and exhaust ports of the valve dividing the same into inlet and exhaust chambers.

3. ln a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having inlet ports, one adapted for communication with an inlet manifold and one for communication with an engine cylinder, and exhaustports, one adapted for communication with an exhaust manifold and one for communication with the cylles , iaaaesz/ inder; a hollow cylindrical valve closed at its ends rotatable in the valve casing have ing inlet and exhaust ports arranged for registration with the inlet and. exhaust ports of the valve casing, and a partition extend ing transversely between the inletand ex ha ust ports of the valve dividing the same into inlet and exhaust chambers.

l. ln a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having oppositely disposed inlet ports. one adapted for communication with an inlet in ani'iold and one 'for communication with an engine cylinder, and oppositcly disposed exhaust ports one adapted i'or connuunication with an exhaust manifold and one for con'nnunication with the cylinder7 and a hollow valve rotatable in the valve casing and ported and partitioned to provide chambers to establish comn'iunication between the inlet ports of the valve casing and between the outlet ports thereof.

In' a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having oppositely disposed inlet ports, one adapted for communication with an inlet manifold and one for communication with an engine cylinder, and oppositely disposed exhaust ports one adapted for con'ununication with an exhaust manifold and one for communication with the cylinder, a valve rotatable in the valve. casing and ported to establish communication between the inlet ports of the valve casing and between the outlet ports thereof, and packing rings disposed in seats in 'the valve casing surroiuiding the ports thereof and bearing against the valve.

6. ln a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having a plurality ot pairs of .inlet ports, the vsaid pairs being spaced apart longitudinally and the ports of each pair being oppositcly disposed, one port ol cach pair being adapted Jtor communication with an inlet manifold and the other port of each pair Jfor communication with an engine cylinder, said casing being further provided with a plurality of pairs o'l exhaust ports, the pairs oi' exhaust ports being longitudinally spaced apart, while the ports of each pair are disposed oppositely, one exhaust port of each pair being adapted for communication with an exhaust manifold and the other exhaust port of each pair for communication with a cylinder, a hollow cylindrical valve closed at its ends rotatable in 'the valve casing and having a plurality of pairs of inlet ports and a plurality of pairs or" exhaust ports, the ports of each pair being oppositely disposed, the ports ci each pair o'l' inlet ports being arranged for simultaneous registrationwith the ports olf the corresponding pair of valve casing inlet ports and the ports of each pair of valve exhaust ports being arranged 'for simultaneous communication with the corresponding ports of a pair oi valve casing exhaust ports, and a plurality of transversely extending partitions dividing the valve into a plurality ol' chambers, all of the inlet ports of the valve communicating with certain of the chambers while all of the outlet ports of the valve communicate with certain of the remaining chambers.

7. ln a gas engine valve, a cylindrical valve casing having a plurality of inlet ports certain of which are diametrically disposed with respect to others, said ports being arranged in groups longitudinally of the valve casing, said valve casing further having a plurality of exhaust ports certain of which are diametrically disposed with respect to others, said exhaust ports being ai ranged in groups longitudinally of the casing, a hollow cylindrical valve closed at its ends rotatably mounted in the valve casing and provided with a plurality of pairs of ports, the ports of each pair being oppositely disposed with respect to each other, there being a valve port for each valve casing port and the valve ports being so arranged with respect to the valve casing ports that in sonic position of the valve the ports of each pair of valve ports will register with certain of the ports of its corresponding group of valve casing ports, and a plurality of transversely extending iliartition walls dividing the valve into a plurality ol chambers, each wall being disposed between the valve ports correspond- 100 ing to a group of valve casing inlet ports and a group oi valve ports corresponding to a group of valve casing exhaust ports.

S. ln gas engines, an engine casing, a plurality oil cylinders, a hollow cylindrical 105 valve casing having inlet ports along one side, each communicating through ducts with one of the cylinders, a plurality of exhaust ports along the other side, each communicating through ducts with one of the 110 cylinders, a plurality of carburetor manii'old ports along said latter side and a plurality of exhaust manifold ports along the 'Former side, and a cylindrical valve rotatable in the valve casing so ported that in 115 a complete revolution it establishes communication between each inlet port and some one of the carburetor manifold ports and between each'exhaust port and some one of the exhausty manifold ports.

9. ln gas engines, an engine casing, a plurality of cylinders, a hollow cylindrical valve casing having inlet ports and exhaust ports communicating through ducts with the cylinders and inlet and exhaust ports 135 adapted for 'communication through other ducts with carburcter and exhaust manifolds, said ports being formed in opposite sides of the casing and all in a common plane through its axis, and a cylindrical 15@ valve rotatablg in th@ casing: and so pmsts n ssmny whe'eof afx my signa# that in a complete revolution ii; establishes tur@ in presence of two witnesses.

cnmmuncation between each inlet port; and ARTHUR D. WHIDDEN. [11. 5.] some one ,Gf the carburever manifod parts Witnesses: 5. and bet-Ween each exhaust pol/fi and some HAROLD G. BRIGGS,

me of the exhaust manifold poifts. i GEORGE G, HARRISON. 

